I performed my bird survey with a friend along the Gap Run and Snowden Trails
as well as at the Visitor Center area.
The first Louisiana Waterthrush pair was observed foraging along Gap Run below
the campground. It seemed that they hadn't yet arrived but the calls of one of
the birds alerted us to their presence at the last possible moment as we were
leaving the area. Two adult and one first year male Purple Finch sang in
shrubs along the Snowden Trail. Another female-type completed the flock of 4.
Nearby we found 3 Fox Sparrows, 2 of which gave us good looks. Robins were
abundant, esp. in the woods along the Snowden Trail.
Some obvious migrants were Towhee and Thrasher.
A couple reported 4 Wild Turkeys near the Gap Run Trail and South Ridge Trail.
I think I heard a male gobbling later not far away.
Notable were low numbers of sparrows, including a lack of White-throated.
Chipping Sparrows don't seem to be back yet. We also missed Sapsucker.
Many vultures of both species enjoyed the windy conditions from my house to the
park.
Scott Baron
Fairfax, Va.
--- On Sat, 4/4/09, Gerco Hoogeweg <gercoh@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
From: Gerco Hoogeweg <gercoh@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Va-bird] NVBC Trip to Sky Meadows
To: va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Saturday, April 4, 2009, 5:30 PM
12 windproof and hardy birders from the Northern Virginia
Birding Club
enjoyed a breezy morning at Sky Meadows SP. In spite of the
strong winds we
did see many great species. Red-headed woodpeckers were
everywhere, a pair
of Pilated Woodpeckers were observed, and several
Yellow-bellied Woodpeckers
were still present. Unfortunately we did not get 7
woodpecker day. Mr. or
Mrs. Hairy Woodpecker was nowhere to be found. All the
raptors we saw, were
struggling in the wind. Highlights were a nearly adult Bald
Eagle (the tail
was getting white) and an unexpected Osprey. A late Brown
Creeper was seen
as well. The Field Sparrows and Eastern Meadowlarks were
very active and we
heard many singing. A sure sign of spring. Along the Bridal
Trail we found 2
Vesper Sparrows. A lifer for some of the participants on
the trip!
Altogether we saw 38 species (see list below). Big misses
were some common
birds like grackles and finches.
For those who use eBird and visit Sky Meadows the following
shared locations
exist:
1 - Sky Meadows SP (main area near the visitors center)
2 - Sky Meadows SP-Bridal trail (the "horse
trail")
3 - Sky Meadows SP --Shearman's Mill Loop (the trail
that goes along the
creeks and start at the Bridal Trail parking lot)
Gerco
Vienna, VA
Canada Goose
2
Black Vulture
7
Turkey Vulture
12
Osprey
1
Bald Eagle
2
Red-shouldered Hawk
1
Red-tailed Hawk
2
Mourning Dove
7
Red-headed Woodpecker
16
Red-bellied Woodpecker
4
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
2
Downy Woodpecker
2
Northern Flicker
3
Pileated Woodpecker
2
Blue Jay
7
American Crow
2
Tree Swallow
5
Carolina Chickadee
7
Tufted Titmouse
5
White-breasted Nuthatch
2
Brown Creeper
1
Carolina Wren
2
Eastern Bluebird
10
American Robin
13
Northern Mockingbird
2
Brown Thrasher
2
European Starling
19
Eastern Towhee
3
Field Sparrow
10
Vesper Sparrow
2
Song Sparrow
17
White-throated Sparrow
5
Dark-eyed Junco
3
Northern Cardinal
2
Eastern Meadowlark
6
Brown-headed Cowbird
1
Purple Finch
1
House Sparrow
1
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